Bdwaed p



(No Model.)

E. P. P0X.

(Jan.

Patented Nov. 16,1880

N-PETERS, FHOTD LITHOGRAPHER WASHINGTON, D C,

)WW J1 M UNTTED STATES PATENT Darren,

EDWARD P. FOX, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0.'234,465, dated November 16, 1880,

Application filed July 16, 1880. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD P. Fox, of Cambridge, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Cans, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This my invention relates to improvements in cans for holding fluids; and it consists in providing the spout of the can with an automatically-operated cap or stopper, having a lever extended over and near the handle of the can, to be readily operated by the hand of the operator grasping the said handle, the said cap being also provided with a spring to keep it normally pressed in contact with the mouth of the spout, thus preventing loss of fluid from evaporation or by the careless upsetting of the can.

This invention not only results in considerable saving of fluid, but in many instances (as when the can contains benzine, gasoline, or similar volatile fluids) obviates the great danger of fire causedby the escape or exhalation of gaseous vapors by the fluids, it frequently happening, though utmost care be exercised, that the gases arising from volatile fluids contained in cans of common construction ignite, the fire running down the line of gaseous vapor into the can. It is well known that such volatile gases when mixed with the atmosphere will form an explosive compound very liable to ignition, intense heat being sufficient at times to cause combustion.

In that class of cans having thimble-like caps held by chains the caps are frequently broken away from the cans and lost, or are by carelessness not used for the purpose intended. The said cap is provided with a spring to keep it normally pressed against, and to automatically close, the mouth of the spout, when the operatinglever is released by the operator, and the said cap is also provided at its under side with a packing or washer, of leather or other equivalent yielding material, to insure the tight closing of the spout and preventexhalation of vapor, 850.

By this my improved cap, besides the advantages gained, as before described, I am enabled to control the jet and flow of fluid from the spout, which is a matter of considerable importance, especially with painters, who use benzine and similar fluids upon their brushes, it being preferable to spread or give the jet a fan-shape, so as to cover the greatest area with the least quantity of fluid.

By providing the cap with ears, and pivoting them to correspondingly-shaped ears upon the spout, I form an inclosing-case for the spring, which is preferably placed around the pivotal pin.

Figure 1 represents, in side elevation, a can provided with my improvements, the full lines showing the cap and operating-lever in normal position, while the dotted lines show the cap raised and the lever depressed. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the inclosing-case, showing the spring that controls the pressure of the cap, the cap and lever being broken off.

The can A and spout a are and may be of usual construction. At the upper end of the spout a, on the inner side, is soldered or otherwise attached a strip of metal bent at its ends to form ears I), to which are pivoted like cars of the cap 0, thus forming an inclosing-ease for the spring 6, (see Fig. 2,) which acts upon and presses the cap a closely against the mouth of the spout a. The pivot forming the axis of motion for the upper and lower members of the inclosing-case extends the entire length of the said case, and forms a central bearing for the spiral spring 0. The cap 0 is provided at its inner face with a washer, m, of yielding material, preferably leather, to insure a perfectly air-tight covering. The cap 0 is provided at its pivotal end with a lever or handle, j, which is to be engaged at its extreme end by the thumb of the operator while his hand is grasping the handle of the can, the lever being depressed when it is desired to l uncover the mouth of the spout, and released to automatically close the said mouth. Upon one side of the can, near its nozzle, I have placed a guide, g, for and through which is extended the lever f. By extending the said lever f to a point in close proximity to the hand of the operator grasping the handle of the can he is enabled by a simple movement of the thumb to readily and quickly operate the cap and regulate the flow of fluid.

This arrangement of the cap 0 and its con= nected parts forms a very cheap, simple, and

reliable means of closing the mouth of the I lever being extended near to the handle of spout, and prevents the escape of fluids by the can to be readily operated by the hand evaporation or otherwise, and also enables holdinglthe can, the parts being all arranged 1 dangerous volatile fluidslfto' be kept in cans and to operate substantially as described. with perfect safety and without exhalation. In testimony whereof I have signed my name It is obvious that the cap may be operated to this specification in the presence of two subequally well in all positions of the can. scribing witnesses.

I claim y r In a can, the handle and can-spout and cap i DDVVARD 0, pivoted upon the said spout, as shown, con1- bined with the lever to lift the said cap, and the spring 0, and the guide gtherefor, the said Vitnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, N. E. G. WHITNEY. 

